Temperature indicating instrument for motor vehicle radiators



Dec. 9v H. H. BOYCE TEMPERATURE INDICATING INSTRUMENT FOR MOTOR VEHCLE RADATORS Original' Filed June 2Ql 1914 /mww Cil Patentes Dec; 9, 1924.

HARRISON H. BOYCE, OF FOREST HILLS, NEW YORK.

TEMPERATURE INDICATING INSTRUMENT FOR MOTOR VEHICLE RADIATORS.

Original application filed June 20, 1914, Serial No. 846,247.

.Divided and this application filed February 20, 1919. Serial No. 278,223. A

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, HARRISON H.' Boron,

a citizen of the United States, residing in F orest Hills, county of Queens, and State ot' New York, have invented certain new and useful Improve-ments in Temperature Indie-ating Instruments for Motor Vehicle Radiators', ication.' y v This invention relates to means for indieating the thermal condition of internal combustion vehicle propelling` engines, such as are used on automobil-es or other vehicles, y

Such engines are commonly provided with water circulation cooling` systems including radiators into which the heated water from the engine cylinder the upper part of the radiator, passes down through the radiator, giving up its heat meanwhile tothe air passing through the radiator tubes, returned from the lower to the engine jackets.

In my Patent No. 1,090,776 I have iridicated the desirability for an instrument for indicating the operating conditionr of such! an engine and have pointed outsome of the results obtainable and advantages incident to the use of an instrument `for this purpose. I have also disclosed in said patent a means for indicating the thermal condi tion of the engine characterized by the use of instrumentalities having a temperature responsive element so located and organized in connection with the engine cooling systeni as to be inliuenced by temperatures eX- istiiigr in a space above the normal level of the water in the cooling system, said spacek being preferably in the upper part of the radiator or in the radiator filler spout, above the water level.

In most cases, especially in automobile practice, this inode of securingV an indication ot' engine conditions is highly satis factory and to be preferred to any other, but in certain instances it is desirable to provide an instrument adapted to show the actual water temperature in the radiator and accordingly having? a temperature responsive element normally submerged in the of which the following is a speci-' Jackets is discharged atl and when finally cooledv is part of the radiator water and res pei'atui'es. particular uti tests. i

It is furthermore instrument sl and capable ofuse upon types and designs so as pending directly to water tem- Such an instrument will find lity in making certain kinds of desirable that such an be of general application radiators of various to avoid the necesiall sity of a special' construction of instrument for each make or design of radiator.

It is also desirable to have the temperature responsive element located at the lowest practica-ble point 'the radiator,

bank ot' tubes therein, greatest possi within` the 'ra in the upper part of preferably directly above the so as to permit the ble variation in the water level diator to occur without exposingl the temperature responsive element and ,sov rendering' the instrument inaccurate as an indicator of is well known that radiators in dimensions sions of the top tank ator above the bank at tubes actual water temperatures. It vary -greatly and particularly in the dimenor space in the radiand it is also wel-l known that the water level in the radiator is not constant but varies considerably under theconditions of use and is often iiiitted to fall considerably below the top of the radiator. vided for in These conditions must be proan instrument designed for general application to radiators and intended toindicate at all times so tar as possible the actu-al temperature of the Water within the radiator.

It is the -object ofy the present invention to meet these conditions by the provision of an instrument having a temperature responsive element connected to the indicating part of the instrument pending into by fiexible means detlie radiator so that the temperature responsive 'element will normally find the lowest practicable level in the radiator and whicl li iiti'od uetioii 1 also is capable of more ready fully into the radiator in coilstructions where baille p'latesor other obstructions are located in the upper part of the radiator A tui-ther sists in the for mounting 21S OCCUI'S l1] Illllly CaSeS.

object of the invention conprovision of `improved means the instrument so as to facilitate its mounting on e iemovsble rediston cap Without interfering with the removebility of the lutter, y in the uooompa-nyinf drawings, in which l haveshown one preieiied embodiment of -the invention se illustmitive of the principle thereof end the best mode now known to me for practicing the seine, f

Figure l is u fece View of one formel the instrument showing the same mounted upon the iille'r cup of e radiator und illustrating the upper puit of the radiator and filler spout in vertical section.

Figure 2 is side elevation of thel construction shown in Figure 1, u part oi the radiator being shown in section.

Referring to the drawings in detail, these show the form 'of the invention yselected. foi' illust-ration es' applied to u conventional form of rediator, such asis used uponautomobiles. A rs'gmentoz the upper part'o v the rnditor only is shown, the radiator heving the usuel benk of tubes l surmounted by e casing section 9 commonly refeired to as the toptank. 'Ihetop tank comprises the space for 'the reception of the heated Water from the engine which enters the tank .in the usual manner through a returnpipe 3, the Water being distributed in the top tank yover the `bank oi bulbes and passing downwardly thiough the narrow passages around the' tubes so' 'to be'oooled, For the purpose of filling the iedistoi, s fillei'a spout is located 'on the'top tenis in the usuelrnsnnei", thisspout being closed by e. removable cap 5 shown es screwing on the threaded uppei end. of the illei` spout. in the ordinary use of 's radiator the Water level will normally stuud, somewheie in the oop tank. above `the top of tlie'baulo tubes, the exact' point being vuiiuble sind the level frequently 'falling well down towards the to? of the tubes, u condition wliieli muy exist in many ceseswithout interieifing with the piogge-r oporetion of tl-.ie cooling systems The means illustra/ted foi' indicating the temperuture of 'the Water in elle indi-iter eomprises s gege oi indicating part il n iountv ed on top of the iudiu'toi oep und hui/ ing enindioating device such es en indicating hand 7 adapted 'to nieveoverl e seule 8,' the instrument also having e temperature responsive element such ss thelleuible tube 9 terminating inv a bulb 10 depending into the upper puitv of the radiator. The tube 9 should bemade of 'such length thut it will extend well dowuwinto the top tank of uy sad-inter*.'lniving` 'the' greatest tank depth likely to. be met with in practice, so that it will be submeiged vin the Water even when the-levely of the letter falls nem-ly down to the top of the tubes. Preifeiubly the length of the tube Si should be suchthat the bulb 10 will actually reach o1 resi usog). lill@ tubes.

' indicate the change iii-temperature.

,The instument illustrated is un instiuinent of the liquid expansion type in which the pointer Y is connected by a suitable linkage ll., which muy be of au'f ie types comn monly employed 'g e flattened tube or Bourdon spring oi: usuel oonstzuotion, this spring, the tube 9 und the bulb l0 being filled ivtla. usuitelole eXp-on sible liquid such es oi memory. Changes of' ternpeietue et 'the bulb lo esuse an expansion o1' eo'nlzieotion o the liquid. therein which is transmitted 'through the tube 9 to the Bourdon spring l2, sensing the lutter to unwind more oi indicating .bend over sosie S so es 'to it will be understood that any other suitable type ,of temperetuie change indieasing means inn` oluding e flexible depending tube or bei1 lne-y be employed.

The gege 6 is lorei'oiiebly mounted. on the radiator cap 5, in suoli a, wey that the sap and gage ae capable of independent iotei'y nim/ement for s. purpose' which will be hereinafter exolsined. its illustrated alle gage has u soi'ew tlueaded stem 13 which pioeets through e hole le inthe i'edietoi oep. Soie'wing on this stein above the oep and -zideptedtof not es en abutment oi shoulder iestingvon the esp, is msnuully rc# leesalole ineens-such es u dise ornut l5 pref A eialoly milled :it its peripheryso that it may be ieedily gripped, Whilev on the stein below the oep are screwed. uA nut l@ and lool:

nut lf( which :muy 'oe .sued 11p/together so es "to innige. e substsntielly iuimovsble' shoulder Online stem hei'o'w the oep. ln mel use the disek 3 5 is suse-unedv down so ss to oleinp the instrument iinily in 'position upon the esp., llrlien the een is 'to be emoved, however, the dise 'l5 euu'be unsorewed slightly so es to loosen the engagement between the instiunient end the esp, thus pei'miteing :ce/latine iots'ry 'movement between the'instrument und oep-and allowing' ,the oepto be unserewed Without tum ing the insti'uinent. This inode ol opeiutiou. is desiieble in instances Where the lowei1 portion of the tube is bent oifei' as in the oase o indizione with relatively shallow top tanks or Wheiethetubeis oe-nt Mound baille plates, es it avoids twisting the tube or' the necessity of swing-ing the bulb i'ound :mol round uns the sap is unsoiewed.

lll

move the lili@ 4 ies lli?

' Bangor o breakage o1' iugm-y to the tube` and bulb 1s thus obviated. Aitor the 'esp is unsoewed it oen' be removed from the filler .spout by simply' drawing the tube land bulb up stlaight out of the illei spout. ln the seine bulb including a radiator the disc 15 is screwed down so as to clamp the instrument firmly to the cap. Any other suitable eonstructimi than that shown tor accomplishing' thi.` purpose may be cmployed but the construction illustrated is simple and satisfactory. l

By making the tube 9 of sufficient length to permit the bulb, under normal conditions, to dip into the Water in radiators Where the er cap` is as far above the top ot the tubes as is likely to be met with, in practice, it is possible to providean instrument which is interchangeable and adapted to be used' on all commercial radiators as the same instrument may be fitted on radiators in which the distance from the filler cap to the top ot the tubes is less, by simply inserting the bulb and tube into the radiator and permittingr them to bend over to a greater or less extent as may be required.

vOwing to the flexibility of the tube 9 the 1() will tend to seek the lowest possible position in the top of the radiator, usually resting directly upon the topf ot' the tubes, thus insuring that the bulb will beimmersed and actual water temperatures indicated so longr as the 'Water level is higher than the top of the `bank tubes.

This application is a division or" my application for patent Serial No. 846,247 filed June 20, 1914, Patent No. 1,311,152, dated July 29, 1919.

While I have illustrated and described in detail one preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that changes may be made therein Without departing from the scope tis .'eo indicated by the appended claims so long as the principle .of my invention is employed in the structure utilized.

Having thus described claim:

l. In means my invention I for indicatingr the thermal condition of an internal combustion engine having a water circulation cooling system including a radiator having' a bank of tubes, a top tank above the bank of tubes, a filler spout and a cap for closing said spout, the combination with the radiator, filler spout and cap, of an instrument mounted on said cap having a stem projecting through a hole in the cap, releasable means operable from vthe outside of the radiator for clamping said instrument to said cap, said instrument havingtemperaturechange indicating means including a ilexible tube depending into the radiator into proximity to thebank of tubes and adapted normally to extend into the water in the radiator top tank.

2'. ln means for indicating the thermal condition of an internal combustion engine having aA water circulation. cooling system having a filler spout and a cap for closing the same, the combination with the radiator, filler spout and cap, ot' a tcmpeinture-change indicating instrument mounted on said cap having aV thermally responsive part including a flexible clement depending from said instrument into the radiator and adapted normally to extend into the Water in the radiator, and manually releasable means for clamping said instrument to said cap.

In means for indicating the thermal condition of an internal combustion engine having a water circulation cooling system including a radiator having a `bank of tubes, a filler spout and a cap for closing the same. the combination with the radiator, filler spout and cap., ot an instrument mounted on said cap having a movable indicating member.an :l means for moving said member including a Bourdon a flexible. tube connected with said Bourdon spring and lextending into theradiator into proximity to the top of the bank ot tubes ot the radiator and a bulb carried by the lower end of' said tube, said bulb, tube and Bourdon spring being' sible fluid.

4. in means tor indicating the thermal condition of an internal combustion engine having a water circulation cooling system including a radiator having a tiller opening and a rotatable closure therefor, the combination with the radiator and closure of an indicating` instrument mounted on said c-losure, and manually releasable means for clamping' said instrument to said cap, said instrument including a movable temperature indicatingr member and means for moving said member including. a pressure sensitive element, a flexible tube connected with said element depending from said instrument into the interior o" the radiator through the, filler opening thereof, and a bulb carried by said and adaptflexible tube ed to normally extend into the Water of the radiator, said bulb, tube and pressure sensitive element being filled with an expansible fluid.

5. In means for indicating the thermal condition of an internal combustion engine having a Water circulation ec .ing system including a radiator having a filler spout and a. rotatable cap for closing the same, the combination with the radiator, filler spout and cap, of a tenu'ierature indicating instrument mounted on the cap having a stem projecting through a hole in the cap and having' a temperature responsive element below the cap, and releasabie means operable from ,above the cap for clamping the instrument firmlyv to the cap or loosening it with relation to the latter so as to permit the cup to be rotated independently of the instrument.

spring,

filled with an expan- I 6. In means for indicating the thermal .condition of an internal combustion engine having a Water circulation cooling system including a radiator having a. filler spout and a. rotatable cap for closing the same, the combination With lthe radiator, liller spout and cap of a temperature indicating instrument mounted on the cap and having a screw threaded stem projecting through a hole-in the cap, means carried by the stem forming a shoulder adapted to bear againstthe under side of the cap and an abutment member having screw threaded engagement with said stem and located above the cap and adapted to be screwed into or out of -clamping engagement with the cap. l

7.111 means 'for indicating the thermal condition of an internal combustion engine having a Water circulation cooling system including a radiator having a filler opening and closure means therefor, including a rotatable element, the combination with the radiator and closure means, of a temperature indicating instrument mounted on the rotatable element and having atemperature responsive element extending into the radiator, and releasable means operable trom the outside of the radiator for clamping said instrument to said rotatable element or vfor loosening it with relation to the latter so as to permit the element to be rotated inde-l pendently of the instrument.

8. ln a system for indicating the thermal coiidition of an internal-combustion engine provided with a Water circulation cooling system including a radiator, having a filler spout and a cap for closing said spout', the combination with the ca of a temperature indicating instrument mounted upon said cap having temperature responsive means including a ieXible element adapted to 'extend as far as practicable into the radiator when the cap is positioned upon the .filler spout.

9. In a system for indica-ting the thermal condition of an internal combustionengine provided with a Water circulation cooling system inciudiiig a radiator, having a iiller spout and a cap 'for closing said spout, the combination with the cap, of a temperature indicating instrument mounted upon'said cap having temperature responsive means including, a tend into the Water in the radiator when the cap is positioned upon the filler spout, and manually releasable means for clamping said instrument to said cap.

10.v ln a system forI indicating `the thermal condition oi an internal combustion engine provided with a Water circulation cooling system including a radiator, having a filler spout and a. cap for closing said spout, a temperature indicating instrument adapted to be mounted upon the cap having tem- 'o'f o. cooling system,

flexible element adapted to ex-` imanes perature responsive means adapt/ed to extend and releasable means operable clamp the into loosen it instrument.

1l. ln a system for indicating the thermal condition of an internal combustion engine provided with a Water circulation cooling`- system including a radiator, having a ller spout and a cap for closing saidspout, a temperature indicating instrument adapted to be mounted upon' the cap having flexible temperature responsive means adapted to extend below the cap, and releas'able means operablerfrom above the cap adapted to clamp the instrument firmly to the cap or'. to loosenv it with relation to the latter so as to permit the cap to 'be rotated independently of the instrument. p

12. In a system for indicating thetliermal condition of an internal combustion en provided 'with a Water circulation lcoo ing system including a radiator, having a filler vspout and a cap :tor closing said spout, lthe combination with the cap, indicating instrument mounted upon said cap and having temperature responsive means including an element adapted to eX- tend into the radiator and normally dip into the radiator water when the cap is positioned upon the fille' spout, said element being constituted for adjustment operative positioning in the radiator.

13. An indicating device for automobiles comprising means adapted to be disposed in temperature responsive relation to the water indicating means adapted to be influenced by 'the temperature of the lWater on sai first mentioned means, and securing means for operatively assembling the device with a removable 'closure 'of said system, the rst mentioned means being 'constituted for adjustment to enable its operative positioning in radiators oi' varying tank chai acteristics.

14. A temperature.indicator for radiators.

of automobiles, comprising temperature re sponsive means adapted to be inserted into the :water space of a radiator with means of attachment tothe radiator cap, and indicating' means operatively associated with said temperature responsive -12o means, said temperature responsive means latter so as to permit the cap to be rotated independently of the ine I `to enable its operatively associated dica iio

and provided being of a character to be self-adjustable as to position when engaged with the radiator structure upon inserting the same into lthe water space of the radiator.'

15. A temperature indicator -for `aii'toz-ihlI?5 mobile. radiators, comprising a temperature.l

responsive' device adapted to be inserted into ,the water space ot' a radiator having means for attachment to o, mciatoi cap, said tomangular relation to its line of insertionperatnre responsive device being of e ohuructhrough the opening to be closed by the cop* ter to maintain any position of adjustment, indicating means on lthe cap iniuenced by but capable of forced defiection to various the temperature of the temperature re- 15 6 positions of adjutment. sponsive means, and means enabling release 16. An indicator for automobile radiators, of the cap while inaintainingits connection comprising a radiator cap adapted to also with the temperature responsive means emi constitute an attaching means for the inwithout necessitating shifting of the temdicetor, temperature responsive means conperature responsive means from its angular l0 neeted to be carriedy by the cap and capable position. of being positioned in the radiator in HARRISON H. ROYCE* 

